Rubber covered article



, Dec. 6, 1932. H. B. JOHNSON RUBBER COVERED ARTICLE Filed NOV. 21, 1930 Patented Dec. 6, 1932 um'rao STATES HERBERT B. JOHNSON, F LARGHMOIVT, NEW YQRK RUBBER COVERED ARTICLE Application filed November 21, 1930. Serial No. 497,303.

This present invention relates to permanent coverings for shafts of which those for golf clubs are a type.

Golf club shafts as now manufactured, may be either of wood or of metal. In the former case, they are subject to warpage due to moisture and as a matter of fact are usually heavily varnished or shellacked to avoid this action. Steel or other metal shafts are 13 subject to corrosion noticeably from rust and it has therefore become a common expedient to chromium plate such shafts or even to coat the same with some kind of a varnish or corrosion resisting material. As a result such 15 metal shafts must be made of specialmaterial either to resist rust and corrosion in and of itself or to receive a resistant coating ,or plate such as chromium, all of which adds materially to the initial and ultimate cost. Coatings of varnish or shellac on both types of shafts above enumerated, are often defective in that they do not have sufficient in-' herent resilience or elasticity to resist the natural flexing of the club during play. As 53 a result the coating becomes cracked and even falls off which makes necessary its frequent replacement.

It is common knowledge that in contacting a club head with a golf ball the club has a 53 tendency to rotate in the hands of the player with the result that the ball makes an erratic flight. This turning is partly due to the fact that the handle of the club is of such a material as will permit the same to slip in the players hands unless he grips the same very tightly, yet at the same time it is also well known that gripping the handle too tightly makes for an imperfect stroke.

The present invention has for its principal object the avoidance of all of the above objections.

To this end the invention contemplatesin one of its forms, the application of a perma-- nent cover to a golf club shaft or the like, of a thin film or sheath preferably of raw or refined crepe rubber. Such a type of cover-' ing has many advantages over other forms of rubber such as tackiness, longer life, ease of cementing, elasticity, flexibility, lack or 59 color, and its capacity of being producedin may be either expanded or stretched thereby very thin sheets which are much tougher than the same thickness in any other type or form of rubber, noticeably those vulcanized in nature or of a rubber composition.

The invention contemplates theapplication of such a cover in many different forms. For instance the shaft may be dipped in or painted with a solution containing raw rubber or latex dissolved in a volatile solvent, which upon being evaporated will leave on the shaft a thin film or cover of crepe rubber.

As another form, the covering may be applied as a sheet, either under tension, or cemented throughout its contact with the shaft.

As still another form, an integral sleeve may be formed remote from the shaft and then slipped onto the shaft in any manner, for instance in an inside-out operation. In this form it is' contemplated that the sleeve to produce a more or less permanent covering. The elasticity of the crepe rubber lends itself to manipulation in the hands of a player or unskilled workman in contra-distinction to the application of vulcani' zed rubber or rubber compounds which may be only applied by a skilled workman. I

Usually the crepe rubber itself will be found to be of sufiicient strength and character to be efficiently retained on the shaft by means of the usual type of rubber or sodium silicate cements, or even by adhesion through its natural tackiness or elasticity, particularly when under tension. However, when desired, a backing or under layer of cloth or fabric may be resorted to, the-latter making contact with the shaft and the crepe rubber with the fabric.

Such a combination obviously may be used as a covering for the usual shaft now in use containing a built-up leather handle, to entirely overlie the same. In such case, that portion of the covering overlying the handle, due to 'its naturaltackiness and roughness, will effectively prevent slippage of the rubher in a players hands without undue gripping. This tackiness may be lessened or entirely eliminated, to any desired degree and on any part of the covering, by the application thereto of talc or the like, or by a sur.-.

4 encased in an integral skin 2 of crepe rubber face treatment such as may be efi'ected by the application of sulphur chloride or the like to the surface thereof. Specifically the applicant has in mind the surface treatment of such a covering on that portion of the shaft not constituting the handle and retaining only the natural tackiness on the handle portion.

It will be apparent that such a covering will effectively prevent rust or corrosion and warpage due to moisture absorption, all ofwhich is undesirable.

The crepe rubber being capable of manufacture in very thin tough translucent or transparent sheets, may permit the finish of the shaft proper to show therethrough. Hence the wood finish or polished metal surface may be maintained in its natural state without special I treatment.

Where desired, the crepe rubber may dyed or stained to lend identification or an ornamental appearance to the shafts, in various combinations.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view of a golf club having an integral crepe rubber covering applied to the shaft or the handlethereof.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 1.

a Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a club shaft having a built-up handle and an overlying covering of crepe rubber.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a method of applying the covering and involving an overlapped joint.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a club shaft hav-' ing a handle overlying a rubber covering.

Fi 6 is a pers ective view showing an integral covering eing pulled over the club shaft.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a shaft having applied thereto a crepe rubber covering in a butt joint, with afabric backing.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a wood shaft at 1 deposited thereon by dipping in or painting on a solution of crepe rub surface in contact with the shaft. Likewise the sheet covering may be stretched around on the shaft 4 which results in a permanent coating under tension.

In Fig. 7 a covering of sheet crepe rubber is shown at 10 encasing the shaft 4 in a butt joint as at 11. In this case the crepe rubber is backed with an underlying sheet of fabric 12 cemented both to the shaft and the rubber by means of any suitable cement. Obviously the fabric 12 may be decorated as desired and when the crepe rubber is used as a thin sheet, this decoration or the club finish will show through with pleasing effects.

In Fig. 6 there is shown at 4 a shaft over which there has been partially pulled a sleeve 13 of crepe rubber formed remote from the shaft, the sleeve being preferably of such a size as to snugly fit and grip the shaft as a permanent covering.

Obviously in any case the shaft may be either solid or hollow and of any desired material, wood, metal, or composition.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is l 1. In combination, a golf club shaft having an enlarged handle and a covering of crepe rubber entirely overlying the shaft and handle, that portion of the covering overlying the handle retaining its natural tackiness.

2. In combination, a shaft having an enlarged handle, a permanent covering of crepe rubber on the shaft and the handle, the surface of the covering on the shaft having had its tackiness reduced by a vulcanization effect, the covering on the handle portion retaining its natural tackiness.

3. In combination, a golf club shaft having a handle portion, a covering of crepe rubber entirely overlying the handle, that portion of the crepe rubber covering adapted to be grippedby a players hands retaining its natural tackiness.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my namethis Nov. 18th, 1930.

HERBERT B. JOHNSON.

r or latex using a volatile solvent. As shown the shaft has an enlarged end portion 3 forming a handle which is covered by the skin or covering 2.

p This club is shown inperspective in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 illustrates a club shaft 4 of general tapered'form with" a built-up handle 5 of any desired material and a covering 6 of crepe rubber a plied over the shaft andhan whilein. 1g. 5 the built-up handle 5 overlies thecovermg 6; Obviously this covering may be applied as an integral skin or sleeve or as a flat sheet as shown in Fig. 4. Inthat figure the sheet 7 of crepe rubber is cementedas at 8 along one edge portion and then overlapped on its opposite edge portion-9 as at 10 and secured there. The cement may be applied either on the edge portion or throughout its 

